A multiprocessor node for communication and control PublicDeposited

Descriptions

This paper describes the design and implementation of
"A multiprocessor node for communication and control"
(MPCC). MPCC is a high speed, high performance local area
network capable of performing real time control tasks. This
is achieved by the concurrent operation of two 8051
microcontrollers, a dual port RAM and the intelligent and
high performance serial interface unit on-board the INTEL
8344.
To achieve the desired high performance in the MPCC,
"the division of labor" principle was applied. A dedicated
"application processor" is employed to carry out all
application tasks and a "communications processor" to take
care of all communication needs in the MPCC. These needs
include: host to node, node to host, and node to node. The
INTEL 8051 microcontroller is used as the application
processor and the INTEL 8344 RUPI is used as the
communications processor. To increase the frame size of the
transmitted and received frames, the INTEL 8344
microcontroller is operated in the expanded node.
MPCC employs the Token passing method for bus access
and uses the RS-485 multidrop implementation for the bus.
Data rates as high as 300 kbs have been achieved.
A monitor, debugger program, MDP-44 was developed for
the 8044. TASKMASTER [HERZ 86] was modified to receive the
command packet from the dual port RAM. Software was
developed to operate the SIU in expanded mode for
communications.